RUGBY DEALT CRUSHING DAV DEFEAT

Rugby Town suffered a heavy August Bank Holiday defeat at local rivals Daventry Town as they returned to league action at Communications Park.

By Craig Webb Tweet

Photo: Martin Pulley

Full back Craig Kelly sees off the attentions of former Valley defender Gary Moran during the first half at Communications Park

Valley boss Dave Stringer kept the same team that beat Studley in the FA Cup on Saturday, with Alex Gudger keeping his place at the centre of defence.

Striker Seb Hamilton had the first chance of the game as early as the fourth minute but shot wildly and saw the ball fly over from close range.

After this, Daventry got into the game producing nice touches of play and Rugby giving away possession far too easily.

Midfield battles were at centre stage during most of the half, until Aaron King dinked the ball over the Valley defence and flicked the ball past Dave Bevan.

Rugby though got back in the game just before half time when Seb Lake-Gaskin headed in a goal from a lovely floated ball into the area from Fazel Koriya.

The second half and Rugby started brighter with Daventry lacking the cutting edge they had in the first half and Richard Blythe nearly took advantage but his accurate shot was blocked by Richard Morris after receiving a good cross from Alex Austin.

This good work was undone when they went behind again through the unfortunate Gudger who inadvertenly turned a Marcel Simpson cross into his own net.

With over 20 minutes still left to play, there was plenty of time for Rugby to at least snatch an equaliser, but they then took a massive blow when home substitute Mykel Beckley beat the offside trap to sprint past Ross Miller to shoot and score from 20 yards out leaving Dave Bevan helpless on 79 minutes.

With Rugby now deflated, they were struggling to clear their lines and in the 89th minute, former Rugby player Neil King dealt a final blow when he saw his perfectly weighted free-kick elude everyone in the away defence and sail into the bottom corner.

Rugby’s miserable afternoon was compounded by Michael Williams who got sent off for a rash challenge though not appearing to touch the player, the referee deemed it dangerous.

A bad day at the office, Rugby hope to improve things when early leaders and new team into the league Godalming Town come to Butlin Road on Saturday.

Valley Line-up: Bevan; Myles (Fagan), Kelly, Miller, Gudger; Austin (Williams), Koriya, Banks, Blythe; Lake-Gaskin, Hamilton. Subs not used: Ruff, Foster, Booth. Booked: Miller. Sent Off: Williams.

Daventry Town: Morris, Moran, Simpson, Sanders, Oulton, A King, N King, Liburd, Cross, Gearing.